Pump valve



E E. GREVE MP vALva Filed June 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY -05; 31. 1940. .L; E GREVE 2,226,972

PUIP VALVE Filed June 15, 1937 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

275,412 II 5m! BY ATTORNEX Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in pump valves, as for example, water valves for high pressure pumps of the character generally employed in the oil fields.

Heretofore, it has been common practice in pumps of the character stated, to employ a multiplicity of relatively small valves and valve deck openings in the pump body, one reason being to minimize the areas per valve which would be subjected to the high unit pressure.

In the type of valve employed however, the force on each valve and valve seat while the valve is in closed position is extremely great, further, the outward force on the caps or members closing the upper or outer valve deck openings is excessive, frequently resulting in leakage, and necessitating large and numerous bolts or studs in order to maintain said caps in sealed position on the pump.

Such prior constructions therefore require large numbers of relatively heavy valves and parts, as well as enlarged flow chambers, which factors combine to increase the friction losses and costs of construction and operation of the pump) An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved valve structure of the character specified wherein the forces due to pressure heretofore having a destructive effect on both the valve proper and its seat are greatly reduced or entirely eliminated. This object is accomplished by a new distribution of the normal pressure forces, so that they will be transmitted to a considerable degree to other parts of the valve structure thus relieving the valve and valve seat from excessive pressures thereby permitting the employment of a considerably lighter and less expensive construction.

A further object is to provide a valve structure including a cap or closure member, wherein the outward forces on the cap by reason of the fluid I pressure are materially reduced, and are in a measure counteracted by the aforesaid distribution of the forces acting upon the valve.

Another object is to provide valves of increased size without excessive pressure loading, whereby a minimum number of valves may be employed in a single pump, with a substantial reduction in friction losses and an increased efficiency of flow.

A still further object is to provide valves of the character stated which will have no obstruction to flow through the openings controlled thereby.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:[

Fig. l is a part sectional and part elevational view of a valve embodying my invention, showing the valve in closed position; 5

Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1, but taken at right angles thereto, and showing the valve in open position;

Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a sectional view showing a modification of the valve;

' Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4., showing a further modification; and

Fig. 6, a view of the form of Fig. 5, showing the valve in elevation and in open position.

In the drawings, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a portion of a pump cylinder, the general construction of which is well known to those skilled in the art. In such constructions, 2 represents a division wall or lower valve deck of the cylinder, disposed below and spaced from an upper or outer wall or valve deck 3, defining a fluid chamber 4 therebetween. The said upper deck 3 generally comprises a portion of the outer cylinder wall or body of the pump. 25

5 designates a port in the lower valve deck 3 through which fluid is designed to flow into chamber 4, said port having inserted therein a removable valve seat 6, with which seat my valve structure, generally designated A, cooperates to control the passage of fluid through the port.

An opening I is formed in the upper valve deck 3 in alinement with the port 5, which opening is of sumcient size to permit the insertion and removal of the valve structure A for assembly as well as for inspection and repair. As is usual in such pumps, the opening 1 is normally closed and sealed by a cap 8, secured to the upper deck 3 by a series of studs or bolts 9, with an intervening gasket or packing III.

A characteristic and important feature of the valve structure of the present invention is the enlarged preferably hollow member I! designed to function as a guide and as" a valve stem. 45

In the form of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the cap 8 is formed with a depending central extension ll adapted for mounting and supporting the valve guide stem l2 therebelow. -Any suitable means may be employed for removably connecting the parts II and H, as for example, each may be formed with a circumferential groove I 3 for receiving the annular spaced flanges ll of a channel-fcrm clamp I5, said clamp being formed of sections bolted together as at It. A ring gasket III I! is disposed between the meeting faces of members II and I2 to seal the joint.

Associated with the guide stem I2 is a valve proper or valve head. In the form of Fig. l, the valve head is shown slidably mounted on the stem and includes a surrounding cylindrical member I8. The portion of the'member or head I8, slidably engaging the guide stem I2 is preferably provided with a rubber or other packing and bearing sleeve I9 in contact with the stem. 26 designates an annular groove in the head I8 opening inwardly throughout its circumference on the sleeve I9, and having communication externally of the head I8 through a series of small openings 2|. In this manner, pressure from the chamber 4 may be exerted against the sleeve I9 for insuring proper sealing contact thereof with the valve guide stem I2. For additional sealing effect, the upper exposed end of the sleeve I9 is annularly slitted or notched at 22 for lateral separation and positive contact with the head I8 and stem I2.

As illustrated, valve head I8 is formed with an internal annular shoulder or abutment 23 for coaction with an external annular shoulder or abutment 24 formed at the lower terminal of the guide stem I2, one of said abutments, as for example, abutment 24, being provided with a resilient bumper 25, which may be of ring form, and made of rubber or other suitable material.

The lower portion of the guide stem I2 preferably terminates above the valve seat 6; and the valve head I8, when the latter is in position with its abutment 23 engaging the bumper 25, depends below the terminal end of said stem to a point adjacent said valve seat, as by an enlarged cylindrical skirt 26. This skirt 26 is annularly recessed at 21 for the reception of a resilient sealing member 28 of rubber or a similar material, the member 28 being in the form of an annular band or cylinder held in its provided recess 21 by an encircling retaining member or clamp 29. This clamp may be of two parts as shown, bolted together as at 30, and has an inturned lip 3| for insertion in an annular groove 32 in the outer face of the valve skirt portion 26, to prevent longitudinal movement of the clamp on the valve skirt. Likewise, the sealing member 28 is formed with an annular lip 33 disposed in a receiving recess 34 in the clamp 29 to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the clamp and the member 28.

The lower portion of the member 28 is turned outwardly and preferably upwardly to form a free projecting flexible lip 35 adapted to engage the upper face a of the valve seat 6; as illustrated, the lip extends freely from the skirt 26 of the valve head I8, and has a width equal to at least the width of the contact face a of said valve seat. The outwardly turned portion of member 28 is preferably supported from beneath by means of a depending divergent terminal flange 36 on the valve skirt 26, said flange serving to prevent excessive flexing of the lip 35.

Also, for similarly guarding the lip 35, the clamp 29 is provided with an upturned flange 31 extending outwardly above the lip, and is provided with apertures 38 therethrough to prevent adherence of the lip 35 to the flange 31 during closing movement of the valve.

In the operation of my valve construction, a flow through the port 5 into chamber 4 is effected by the upward opening movement of the valve head I8 on the guide stem I2, caused by the pressure of the incoming fluid. The opening movement of the valve may be arrested as desired, as by the provision of a resilient bumper 39 on the under side of the clamp I5, which bumper will be engaged by the upper end of the valve head I8, the full-open position of the valve being shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the use of the resilient rubber bumper 25 and 39, prevents jarring or slapping opening and closing movements of the valves, which together with the elimination of the metal-to-metal engagement of the valve and valve seat, eliminate vibration and valve noise in high pressure operation of a pump so provided.

Upon a change in the pressure differential between chamber 4 and other parts of the pump communicating therewith through the port 5, as for example, that change occasioned by a reversal of a pump piston stroke, the increased pressure resulting in chamber 4 will act upon the valve head I8 to move the same to closed position. The closing movement of the valve head is arrested by the engagement of the abutment 23 with the bumper 25 of abutment 24, whereby the flexible sealing lip 35 of resilient member 28 is in position to be and is independently urged into contact with the face a of valve seat 6 by the fluid pressure acting on said lip, thus closing off the lower end of the valve head I8 or the skirt 26 thereof from the chamber 4.

Due to the fact that the guide stem I2 is sealed from the chamber at I! above, and by the head I8 and sealing lip 35 below, the greater portion of the maximum cross-sectional area of the valve stucture in chamber 4 is prevented from creating forces under th fluid pressure in said chamber, which would act in the direction of movement of the valve.

The cross-sectional area of the valve head I8 outwardly beyond the guide stem I2 however, is subjected to such pressure, and will become load ed with a force exerted downwardly toward the valve seat 6. Even though this loading may reach substantial proportions, as for example, in valves of large size, particular attention is directed to the fact that such loading is not applied to the actual closure and seat, but is distributed to the valve cap and body of the pump, whereby the wear heretofore prevalent on pump valves and seats under high fluid pressures is eliminated.

The force or loading applied to said valve head I8 in the direction of its closing movement is transmitted to the guide stem I2 through abutments 23 and 24, and from said stem to the valve cap 8, and ultimately to the upper valve deck 3 of the pump body upon which the cap 8 is mounted.

It will therefore be seen that undesirable and excessive pressure loading in my valve construction is either eliminated or is distributed in such a manner as to have no injurious effects on the valve and its seat. The actual sealing or closing action of my valve takes place by the fluid pressure acting independently upon the lip 35 of the resilient member 28, which lip is initially located in contact with the valve seat by the arrest 01' movement of the valve head I8 on its guide stem I2, as described.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the reduction of the outward force on the closure member or valve cap 8. In prior constructions, the cap has generally been subjected to the force produced by the pressure acting upon the entire area of the opening I in the upper valve deck 3, which has been one of the reasons Ldh EHLVLO;

for the use of relatively small valves and openings in said deck, necessitating a plurality of valves for a single pump.

By making the guide stem I2 as large in diameter as is feasible to enable the mounting of the valve head l8 thereon and the insertion of the assembly through the valve deck opening 1, the effective area of the cap 8 subjected to the aforesaid outward pressure is materially reduced. Likewise, the downward or inward force applied to the stem I 2 as hereinbefore described, counteracts a portion of said outward force on the cap, whereby the total outward force on the cap is sufliciently minimized as to permit caps and their retaining studs or bolts of much lighter construction than heretofore.

The material reduction in the reactive forces on valve and cap in my construction permits the use of valves and caps relatively light in weight, and also enables the use of greatly increased sizes in high pressure service, whereby the number of valves per pump may be correspondingly reduced, with an attendant decrease in cost as well as in friction losses in the operation of the pump. There is likewise no obstruction to flow through the present valve construction when in open position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The extent of the valve opening may be varied as desired, by varying the distance between the valve seat and the lower terminal of the guide stem l2, keeping the limit of valve head travel on said stem constant. Or, the travel of said valve head may be varied by the designer.

While a spring is not essential to the operation of the valve, which is fluid-actuated, a spring 40 may be provided as illustrated, extending between the clamp l5 and the valve head l8, whereby to insure against sticking and for assisting in initiating closing movement of said valve head.

The guide stem of my valve construction also may be formed as an integral part of a closure member or cap and supported from the upper valve deck. Thus in Fig. 4, the guide stem I20 is formed integrally with a cap or cover member 8a disposed over the upper deck opening 1 and in sealing engagement therewith by a gasket I011. The member 8a may be directly secured to the valve deck 3, or may have a separate fastenin cover or supplemental cap, as illustrated at ll, secured to the upper valve deck by studs 9a. The remaining parts of the valve structure are substantially identical with corresponding parts of the form of Figs. 1 to 3, and have been so indicated by numerals.

However, in order to permit assembly, the lower terminal abutment 24a of the stem He is preferably formed on a removable nut or cover member 42, screw threaded or otherwise secured to the lower end of said stem.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a further modification wherein the guide stem and valve proper or head are integral, and move to ether as a unit. In such a construction, and with the valve A in closed position, as in Fig. 5, the guide stem l2b extends from a point adjacent the valve seat 6 throughout the fluid chamber 4 and extends outwardly through the opening I in the upper valve deck 3.

The lower end of said stem, comprising the valve head portion l8b, is externally and annularly recessed at 211) to seceive the resilient sealing element 28b, the latter being secured to the guide stem by the surrounding clamp 29b, bolted as at 30b. Said sealing element is formed with the flexible closure lip 35b as before for actual sealing contact with the valve seat face a.

For arresting the closing movement of the valve in this form of my invention, a cap member 8b is provided over the upper valve deck opening I, said member 8b having a central bore 43 engaging and guiding the stem I22), and having sealing contact with the valve deck 3 by a suitable gasket lob. Likewise, the bore 43 is provided with a gasket l9b in guiding and sealing contact with the stem Hi).

The outer end of said stem l2b may be provided with a removable cover or nut 44 having a laterally extending abutment flange 24b for engaging the cap member 8b when the valve is in closed position. 25b designates a rubber bumper disposed between member 8b and the abutment 24b.

By such construction, the downward load on the valve proper in closed position is distributed by the guide stem I2b to the abutment 24b, and thence to the cap member 8b and upper valve deck 3, for relieving the actual valve closure as before.

A supplemental cap or cover member 45 may be provided to enclose the assembly, and with the member 817, may have common studs or bolts 9b for securing said cap members to the upper valve deck 3, said supplemental member if: mounting a rubber bumper 39b for engagement by the stem cover 44, as in Fig. 6, thus limiting the opening movement of the valve, while cushioning the same.

The valve structure A just described will have the same advantageous load distribution as the form of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the stem I 2b materially decreasing the areas subjected to pressure loading in the direction of movement of the valve, both as to outward forces on the cap 8b and downward forces on the valve and seat.

It will be evident that in all forms of my invention, tension loading is applied to the guide stem to relieve the valve and valve seat, and due to the flexibility of the resilient lip 35 of the closure, the pressure thereon is independent of the forces acting upon the stem and cap.

Attention is further directed to the valve guide stem employed in my valve structure, the portion of which that is exposed to fluid pressure, i. e., the portion between the valve cap and valve head, is preferably uniform as to its external contour, without grooves, shoulders or projections which might present cross-sectional areas producing undesirable pressure loading on the valve or valve head when closed, as well as excessive outward pressure on the valve cap. I also utilize the largest available diameter of guide stem.

I claim:

1. In a pump valve structure of the character described, the combination with a valve seat, of a valve cap member fixedly supported in spaced relation to said seat, a valve guide stem reciprocable through said cap and having a valve head portion thereon, a flexible sealing member carried by the valve head portion for engaging the seat, said stem having an abutment for engaging the valve cap thereby arresting the closing movement oi the valve to permit an independent pressure sealing engagement of the sealing member with the seat, packing means between the guide stem and valve cap member, an outwardly extending guard member on the valve head back of the flexible sealing member in opposed relation to the seat spaced at its outer marginal portion from the seat in the closed position of the valve.

2. In combination with a wall having an opening and a wall spaced from the first wall having an opening in line with the first opening for fluid communication with the space between the walls, a cap detachably connected to the first wall closing the first opening, a stem means on the cap insertible through the first opening and approximately bridging the space between the walls, valve means for the second opening carried by said stem means, one of said means being movable toward and away from the second mentioned opening so that the valve means may seat and unseat, said stem means throughout its length being of relatively large cross-sectional area with respect to the area of the first mentioned opening and the second mentioned opening so as to minimize pressure loading on the valve means and the cap, said valve means comprising a flexible sealing member having an outwardly extending lip to engage a seat, and an outwardly projecting guard flange back of the lip and spaced therefrom in the closed position of the valve means.

3. In a valve structure of the class described, a stem, a valve head of ring form reciprocable thereon, said stem having an outwardly projecting portion in the path of movement of the valve head"to limit closing movement of the latter, said ste'm"bei'rig-i r'1separable sections enabling attachment of the valve head, a clamp surrounding said valve head, and a flexible sealing member secured to the head by said clamp having an outwardly projecting lip for engagement with a seat.

4. In a valve structure of the class described, a stem, a valve head of ring form reciprocable thereon, said stem having an outwardly projecting portion in the path of movement of the valve head to limit closing movement of the latter, said stem being in separable sections enabling attachment of the valve head, a clamp surrounding said valve head, a flexible sealing member secured to the head by said clamp having an outwardly projecting lip for engagement with a seat, said valve head at the inner extremity being flared and engaged by said sealing member at the zone of flexing of the lip, and an outwardly projecting perforated flange on the clamp back of the lip in spaced relation to the latter in the closed position of the valve.

5. In a pump valve structure of the character described, the combination with a valve seat, of a valve including a valve head, a. closure member on the valve head for independent pressure sealing engagement with the seat, a guide stem for the valve head, said stem having a contour and sealed from fluid pressure to prevent a pressure loading on the valve head throughout the crosssectional area of the stem, and means on the stem for arresting the closing movement of the valve head in spaced relation to the valve seat, the parts being constructed and arranged whereby the pressure loading on the head externally of the stem, is distributed to the stem when the valve is in closed position, an outwardly extending guard member on the valve head back of the closure member in opposed relation to the seat spaced at its outer marginal portion from the closure member in the closed position of the valve.

6. In a pump valve structure of the character described, the combination with a valve seat, of a valve including a valve head, a flexible closure member on the valve for independent pressure sealing engagement with the valve seat, a valve cap fixedly supported in spaced relation to the seat, a valve stem depending from the cap, means on the stem for arresting the closing movement of the valve head in spaced relation to the valve seat, the parts being constructed and arranged whereby the pressure loading on the valve in the direction of its closing movement is distributed to the valve cap through said stem when the valve is in closed position, an outwardly extending perforated guard member on the valve head back of the flexible closure member in opposed relation to the seat spaced at its outer marginal portion from the closure member in the closed position of the valve.

7. In a pump valve structure of the character described, the combination with a valve seat, of a valve cap fixedly supported in spaced relation to the seat, a valve guide stem depending from the cap, a valve head reciprocably mounted on the stem, a flexible sealing member on the valve head, coacting means on the stem and valve head for arresting the closing movement of the latter and permitting an independent pressure sealing engagement of the flexible member with the seat, an outwardly extending perforated guard member on the valve head back of the flexible sealing member in opposed relation to the seat, and said coacting means arranged to arrest closing movement of the valve head in a position with said guard member a greater distance from said seat than the thickness of the flexible sealing member between the same and the seat.

EDGAR E. GREVE. 

